Metallurgist or Chemist needed to help US Navy with historic preservation

[cannonmn]

1.  This relates to the video I posted here yesterday, which shows irreversible damage which can happen to a bronze cannon stored outside, in a relatively short time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3OCocX5pU0

2.  The Navy has not asked for any help with this, however they don't have the resources to address the problem, even if it ranked in their priorities, which it doesn't.  There are about two dozen priceless bronze cannons on outside display at the Washington Navy Yard, including the one in this video, and unfortunately they are all deteriorating due to acid rain, bird droppings, etc.

3.  Board members may be able to help the Navy with this problem.  The highest priority need is for technical expertise acceptable to the Navy.  The Navy will accept advice from highly-qualified technical consultants, which in this case might include a metallurgist, or a chemist specializing in corrosion.  If we could find within NSSA such a person who would be willing to produce a study of the present condition of the cannons, and make recommendations, it might get things started.  Or perhaps one of you knows of a metallurgist or chemist somewhere who would consider requesting a grant to do this work.  Please let me know if you can help or if you know someone who can.

[Cat Whisperer]

Would there not be such a learned person working at SOME museum?

I would think there would be a bit of collected knowledge here and there.  Perhaps at such places that do restorations - like the Smithsonian.

[cannonmn]

There are loads of 'em, not a problem finding one with the right skills.  It is going to be a bit harder finding one who will do it for free, which is all the Navy can afford at the moment.  I figured one of them would do it as part of a thesis or some other study they are doing already, something like that.  Sometimes if these high-powered folks see an opportunity, they will know how to apply for a government or institutional grant to pay for the work.

The only such work the Navy has had done that I know of is the conservation of the Spanish 12-pounder gun "El Alano" which was done under a "Legacy Grant" from the US Government back about 2000.  A new Maryland State-run conservation lab on the Eastern Shore of MD was given the grant to do that work.  I'm not sure why they kept the cannon for about 8 years after that, but it is back in the Navy Yard now.

[GGaskill]

... but it is back in the Navy Yard now.

And out in the acid rain unprotected?

Why can't that study be used as justification for conserving the others?  Is that study available for reference?

[cannonmn]

Good questions.  For info on the conserved cannon, see 5:55 into this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vHZh-M7xIw

I think the text info that comes with that video on YT has a link to the Navy page describing the conservation.  It doesn't say how much the grant was for but I'd guess a grant like that isn't even worth writing up for under $50K, so the Navy expects each conserved cannon to cost $50K and they have exactly zero funds to do it.  Personally as I say in the video, I dont necessarily endorse the microcystalline wax thing because it has to be redone each year or two, and if you just cleaned, dried, and painted one of the cannons, it would last for 20 years anyway, especially if a good grade of paint was used, one that had some penetrating properties like Rustoleum used to when it had fish oil in it.

So yes, they could use the results of the first conservation, but no they don't have any money to do anymore, especially at $50K each which in my humble opinion is way more than needed.

Glad you are interested, the Navy won't tell much since now I'm "the enemy" but I'm staying in touch with the private organization known as "Naval Historical Foundation" which can accept donations and help the Navy get things done.